Abstract: A rolling fire door consists of a plurality of interconnected fireproof slats forming a curtain which is received by a pair of tracks along the sides of an opening to be secured. A torsion spring assembly assists in the raising and lowering of the curtain during normal operation. A torsion spring tube, rotated by raising and lowering of the curtain, is connected to a hydraulic pump. Upon the sensing of smoke, fire or the like, the torsion spring mechanism is disengaged and the curtain begins to fall by its own weight within the pair of tracks. The falling of the curtain rotates the torsion spring tube and accordingly drives the hydraulic motor which includes a restriction providing a load to the rotation of the torsion spring tube, thereby restricting the rate of descent of the curtain.

Abstract: A device for opening and closing a closure member, typically a curtain in which a cord is associated with the closure member and has a bight portion located in the first plane and a pair of substantially parallel, spaced first and second reaches located in a second plane spaced from the first plane. The device comprises a drive roller for driving engagement with the bight portion, a reversible electric motor for driving the drive roller, the diameter of the drive roller being larger than the spacing between the parallel reaches. First and second pulleys are provided between the reaches and the bight to allow a change in direction of the cord between the reaches and the bight, the first pulley being rotatable about an axis which is skewed relative to the first and second planes. Thus, the reaches pass around the respective pulleys and when the reaches leave the pulleys the spacing between the reaches is substantially similar to the diameter of the drive roller.

Abstract: A motorized header element for extending and retracting an accordian-type shade along a pair of rectalinear and curvilinear mounted side tracks and for effecting an environmental seal in the plenum formed between the shade and the surface which it covers. The invention is adaptable to both automatic and manual operation and contains within its automatic/motorized drive system electrical circuitry for recharging its battery power source.

Abstract: An overhead blind in which not only the slats can be tilted, but also all of the slats can be shifted to open and close the blind which further includes a tilting control means and opening-and-closing control means for permitting tilting and opening-and-closing operations to be automatically controlled.

Abstract: This control system for a roller-blind or the like comprising swivel blades coupled to a master blade carrying at one end a stud adapted, during its downward movement, to travel in a slide groove disposed behind a rocker and, during its upward movement, to engage both the slide groove, and the rocker, this control system comprises a microcomputer having stored in its non-volatile memory a control program of which the instruction groups are adapted to control the stud movements and the blind movement in relation to four predetermined stop points with respect to the rocker.

Abstract: In a group of blinds each blind consists of a number of thin slats suspended from a horizontal shaft. The slats are attached to cords fixed to the shaft and the slats are turnably adjustable by rotating the shaft, which is connected to both a hand-operated mechanism and automatic drive unit. Said automatic drive unit is provided with a torque limiting device. Moreover, a timing device is connected to said drive unit for all blinds in the group for automatic actuation of all said drive units at determined points of time and setting of the slats in all blinds to closed or open position irrespective of their existing position set by said hand-operated mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided a roll-type door having horizontally positioned slats which is normally held by operator means in an open position against gravity. Said operator means includes fusible means responding to a predetermined heat level for releasing said door and permitting same to move under gravity in a closing direction. Said operator means includes a device for initiating said door movement immediately after the response of said fusible means to said heat level and further includes a connection to braking means for insuring against too rapid a descent by the door. The door may be manually opened if desired or mechanical means, power driven if desired, may be provided for opening or assisting in opening such door. In the latter case, clutch means are provided for disconnecting same immediately upon breakdown of said fusible means whereby said door will be enabled to close freely in response to gravity subject only to control by the above-mentioned braking means.